Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: My House Was Destroyed. I Cried (6)
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Treasures in this world can be broadly divided into two types.
One type is considered precious only to a specific group of people.
Things like the sacred relics of a religion, the national treasures of a country, or a celebrity’s cherished possession.
In fact, most treasures fall into this category.
The value of an object inherently depends on the perspective of the one who beholds it.
For instance, even if you were lucky enough to obtain an elephant’s tusk that a primitive tribe holds more valuable than life itself, to a world-weary professional, it would be nothing more than a piece of dirty trash.
But the world is vast, and there are always exceptions.
Occasionally, an object is considered precious by almost everyone.
Priceless treasures of gold and silver that could sustain a family for three generations, an elixir of eternal youth that grants a hundred years of health with a single dose, or an artifact that allows one to see into the future.
A treasure so impossible to conceal that a storm of blood would inevitably follow any attempt to possess it.
That was the other type.
Alice suddenly thought.
Perhaps Yuria, too, was a being who would be treated as such.
*How… can a person’s face be this perfect?*
Her slightly upturned eyes, the distinct yet subtle line of her nose and lips that declared their presence gently.
And the sharp line that flowed naturally from her slender chin, unusual for a child, down to her neck.
Even though she wore a pair of utterly silly cat pajamas, the indifferent, aloof expression in her half-lidded, sleepy eyes was enough to evoke images of an angel or a fairy descended from the heavens.
It wasn’t just her face that was unnaturally perfect, either.
The overall proportions of her head and body, and even her silver hair, which fell naturally without any special grooming, completed her composition flawlessly.
Like a masterpiece crafted over a lifetime by a doll maker hailed as a genius of the century, Yuria was the very definition of an ultimate beauty, without a single flaw to be found.
*So this is why… she wears a mask.*
Faced with such an overwhelming charm that seemed to bewitch people, even Alice, a connoisseur of all things cute, couldn’t help but feel her heart seized, utterly captivated!
*Smack!*
“...?”
But Alice, turning her back abruptly, slapped both her cheeks hard enough to make them sting, desperately trying to rein in her runaway thoughts.
Why would Yuria, who had never once taken off her mask, reveal her face so openly in front of her?
Wasn’t it because she believed it was safe to show her face to Alice?
And she was going to betray that trust?
That would be no different from betraying Yuria herself.
Even though she desperately wanted to walk right up to Yuria, slip her arms under her armpits, and pull her into a tight back hug until their bodies were pressed together.
To nuzzle her cheek against the top of her head while hugging her, or to sniff her hair and tease her until she was completely flustered.
To tickle her until that cool, indifferent expression, as if nothing in the world interested her, crumpled into a teary one, or to gently nibble on her ear!
But here, she had to act as she always did with Yuria.
When she thought about how much hardship Yuria must have endured because of that beautiful face, a sense of adult duty reared its head before her desires.
*I have to protect Yuria. Be a great adult, Alice!*
Let there be no misunderstanding.
Alice wasn’t sexually attracted to Yuria.
She was like a cat lover who had just laid eyes on a kitten possessing the ultimate form of cuteness.
She was simply mesmerized by Yuria’s overwhelming charm.
Of course, if a no-holds-barred Alice were to be left alone with a defenseless Yuria…
No one could say what might happen next.
“W-well, then, sh-sh-shall we go to bed?”
“...!”
Her voice cracking, Alice robotically led Yuria to her room.
Yuria tilted her head at Alice’s suddenly strange behavior, then quietly poked her own cheek in thought.
*Is it because my face is too cute? Well… Alice is trustworthy, I guess. She’s not the type to do anything weird.*
Yuria knew very well how pretty her face was.
She had two perfectly good eyes; not knowing it after looking in a mirror would just make her a fool.
If she didn’t know, why would she have worn a mask all this time?
But she trusted Alice.
Not the Alice from the original story, but the Alice she had seen with her own two eyes.
As long as she was certain that Alice wouldn’t do anything strange and that showing her face wouldn’t lead to any troublesome consequences…
No matter how she thought about it, there was no need to go through the hassle of wearing a mask to bed.
*This reaction is just temporary. She’ll get used to it soon enough. They say you get tired of a pretty face if you see it all the time.*
Yuria thought nonchalantly as she trotted after Alice.
*Absolutely do not touch her. Maybe later, when we’re closer, but not now… Endure it, just endure it!*
She was completely oblivious to the inner turmoil of Alice, who was weeping tears of agony inside, fighting not to succumb to her desires.
“A-ahem. Yuria. Maybe I should sleep on the sofa…”
“…”
“Ugh! O-okay, I get it… I get it! Let’s just hurry up and sleep! Oh, I should turn off the lights~”
In the middle of it all, Alice’s attempt to escape was thwarted by Yuria.
She was utterly powerless against the ultimate pleading gaze, with Yuria’s eyes gently downcast as she looked up at her timidly.
And so, Alice and Yuria ended up lying in the same bed.
Fortunately, since Alice’s bed was a double, it wasn’t too cramped.
However, as their bodies inevitably touched, Alice’s desires and worldly passions showed no sign of abating, even as time passed.
*8,362 sheep… 8,363 sheep…*
“…”
*Y-Yuria?!*
And so, several hours after turning off the lights and lying side by side in bed.
Yuria, who was sound asleep, rolled over in her sleep and snuggled right into Alice’s arms, forcing Alice to desperately grab her own arms with a look of despair.
If she failed to restrain her aficionado’s desires and hugged Yuria tightly, and Yuria woke up and looked at her with an annoyed expression… Alice simply couldn’t bear that horrifying future.
*I can’t sleep like this…!*
*Thump, thump.*
It was a sleepless night for a certain pitiful connoisseur of cuteness.
***
In the morning, I awoke to a soft, squishy sensation on my face, finding myself in Alice’s arms.
Why am I here?
As I tilted my head, my mind still groggy with sleep, I heard Alice’s voice from above me, sounding utterly exhausted.
“...?”
“Yuria, good morning… Can you let go now…?”
“...!”
At her words, I belatedly realized that my arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.
What? How long have I been like this?
As the sleepiness vanished in an instant, I quickly unwound my arms and pulled back. She rubbed her face wearily and slowly sat up.
Oh, right. I slept at Alice’s place last night. No wonder I wasn’t cold.
With a much clearer head, I let out a big yawn and stretched my arms high above my head.
*I think I had a really good sleep for the first time in a while. I guess people really do need to sleep in a warm place…*
When I slept in a sleeping bag at the base, my nose would get cold and my whole body would ache.
But sleeping at Alice’s, I felt no such fatigue; my body was simply overflowing with energy.
This is why a house and a bed are so important.
I felt like I was appreciating their importance all over again.
“Yuria, you can sleep more if you’re tired. I’ll wake you up later.”
“…”
“You don’t need to?”
Yeah. I’m not really one to sleep a lot.
I nodded at Alice’s question and followed her out of bed into the living room.
I should wash up, then go to the general store to change before heading to work.
After roughly mapping out my plan, I accepted a piece of toast from Alice and filled my hungry morning stomach.
After politely declining her offer to shower together again, I finished a quick shower, put my mask back on, and slipped on my coat.
It’s a bit embarrassing to walk around in cat pajamas, but if I wrap myself up tightly in my coat, I probably won’t stand out too much.
Was it because I was wearing the mask again?
Alice, looking much calmer than last night, tilted her head as I prepared to leave and asked.
“Yuria, you’re leaving already? Why don’t you go with me…”
“…”
I have to change.
I pointed a finger at my cat pajamas.
Finally seeming to realize that I wasn’t in my usual maid outfit last night but in strange pajamas, Alice scratched her cheek, looking disappointed.
Still, thanks for letting me stay the night.
I walked over to the disappointed Alice and gave her a tight hug.
It was the best expression of gratitude I could offer, being unable to speak.
Alice hugged me back and was about to say something, but then her expression grew pensive as she fell deep into thought.
I didn’t know what she was thinking, but… it probably wasn’t anything to worry about.
And with that, we had our brief farewell.
Since we would see each other again at the agency later anyway, we didn’t exchange any grand goodbyes.
*I’ll have to search hard for a place right after work today. I can’t keep imposing on Alice.*
As I left Alice’s apartment and felt the cold air, I made a silent vow.
Nothing eventful happened after that.
I reached Greg’s general store, unlocked the door with my key, and changed into my maid outfit.
After tidying up the store, I headed straight to the agency without any detours.
“Yuria, wait a second…”
“...?”
The moment I arrived at the Fixer Agency, Alice took my hand and suddenly pulled me out into the hallway.
“If you don’t have a place to go, would you like to live at the agency?”
And just like that, I was faced with a perplexing offer.
Why would I live here?